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[ 53 ] as a libel, or not, has never been agitated, except by Mr. Bearcroft, when addressing the Jury on the trial, and endeavouring to obtain their general verdict in favour of his client.

As it is said, in the advertisement prefixed to this offensive Dialogue, "That the friends of the Revolution will instantly see that it contains no principle which has not the support of the highest authority, as well as the clearest reason, so it may be said in addition, that nothing but downright party hatred, and libellous malice, could have set on foot a criminal prosecution against the Dean for publishing it; a prosecution, which the prosecutor's counsel deemed imprudent. And although in the same breath he gave his opinion, that the Dialogue was a libel, and meant to reflect on the King and his government, as well as to excite sedition and discontent among the people, almost the contrary is the truth, and of course, the Dialogue is no libel at all. A writing may reflect on the King and his government, and be very true, innocent, stitutional,